Kaleisha & Dakota

After dating for a while Dakota and I got married in 2015. We knew from early on in our relationship that family was very important to us, and we would love to grow our family.

Soon after we were married, we decided to start trying. The months turned into years, and we had no success. Our friends began having children, and they became our adopted nieces and nephews but still, we longed to have children of our own.

At the end of 2018, my OB/GYN diagnosed me with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and suggested Dakota and I begin our fertility testing together. After many appointments, testing, and labs we found out Dakota has a genetic defect causing us to have male factor infertility.

We immediately started exploring our options and scheduled an appointment with an adoption agency. As the days grew closer to the appointment, I came across a Shady Grove Fertility advertisement and felt it was a sign to not give up on the idea of pregnancy.

Feeling supported and hopeful at SGF

From the very first appointment with Dr. Matthew Connell, Dakota and I felt heard, understood, supported, and above all, hopeful! Soon after the appointment we chose our sperm donor and started our intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycle. Doing these treatments during the pandemic was not the easiest, in fact it was rather lonely. We would drive to the clinic together, but Dakota would have to stay in the car. The first IUI cycle failed, and so did the two we did after.

We felt so defeated. We decided we needed to take a little time to regroup and meet with Dr. Connell to determine what the next move was going to be. Together we decided in vitro fertilization (IVF) would be worth a try. Dakota and I both felt overwhelmed, so we took some time off treatments before jumping in.

In November 2023, we started our first IVF cycle. I was nervous about the shots and the retrieval. Both of which were not as bad as I anticipated. On January 19, 2024, in the middle of a snow and ice storm, we made our way to Towson for our first frozen embryo transfer (FET).

Two weeks later we got the most amazing phone call from Dr. Connell letting us know I was pregnant! After the fastest 9 months, on September 24, 2024, we welcomed our son, Carson William into this world!

Making dreams come true

To all the future patients, remember all our stories are different, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Shady Grove Fertility is full of knowledgeable people who are passionate about helping you make your dreams come true!